Should my brakes be replaced...again?

Question

I am driving a 97 Chevy Lumina, almost exactly a year ago I had the front brakes replaced. Now I have been noticing that my brakes are whining when applied and the ABS warning light has been continuously on for a few months now. It doesn't seem that the brakes should already need to be replaced after only a year so should I bring back the car to the shop I had them done or bring them to another garage all together.

Answer 1

It really depends on how much you use the brakes, and the type of material that was used on the brake pads.

Typically Semi-metallic last longer than the newer ceramic pads, but ceramic pads are typically less noisy.

If the brakes are making noise, definitely get them checked out asap to ensure your rotors aren't being damaged. A good brake shop will let you know typically at no cost for the inspection.

Answer 2

How many miles has it been?  That's important.  Normally new pads will go at least 30K miles. So probably your pads are ok. Also you didnt mention what kind of work they did.  Just new pads?  New rotors?  I would say you should take it back to the same guys and see what they say.  If they say oh its unrelated dont pay for any services just take your car and say I am getting a second opinion. Go to a couple of other places and have them diagnose it for you.  Then go back to the first place if it was something you think should have been covered.

Answer 3

have it looked at but the abs has nothing to do with the regular brakes...get it scanned...probly bad sensor

Answer 4

If you didn't have the rear ones replaced now might be the time for them. The front ones invariably wear out first.

If I was happy with your present shop and trusted them, I would give them repeat business.

Answer 5

First of all quit going to garages because they rip you off. Buy the life time pads for 30 bucks and do them yourself! Takes about an hour and a little bit of common sense.

Answer 6

I have a 97 Lumina too and I have to get the brake pads changed quite often. I just got them changed about 4 months ago and am already experiencing a lot of squealing. I've also heard of others, who have Luminas, who too have to change their brakes out pretty often. Maybe you should try another garage.

Answer 7

it all depends on how many miles you have done in the last twelve months or if you are a person that uses your brakes a lot or it could have been a poor quality brake pads fitted origanaly         good luck34                      

Answer 8

Could be that the rear brakes now need to be replaced?  

Also could be that the shop that replaced the front brakes last year used really cheap parts - I once made the mistake of having Firestone replace my brakes.....the pads and rotors they installed lasted less than 1/2 as long as the original brakes did.  As a "bonus", the Firestone rotors warped within less than 5000 miles of installing them (whereas the OEM brake rotors went over 92,000 miles without warping!)

I'd definitely get the brakes checked out at a different shop this time, but no matter where you go, you NEED to get them fixed ASAP.  Brakes are the one system on a car that you REALLY need to keep up.  Not being able to stop because your brakes don't work will be, by far, the most dangerous situation you (and other drivers around you) will ever encounter when driving so don't ever let that happen!  Get 'em fixed.